HB601

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that certain uses of state-owned lands in the Waimano ridge area of Oahu have created unnecessary friction between the state administration and the surrounding community residents. Over the past seven years, the state administration has systematically increased the use of state-owned lands in the Waimano ridge area in ways that have disenfranchised the surrounding community residents and placed them in potential harm's way.

Recently, testing of viruses and other potentially dangerous specimens has occurred at the department of health's laboratory located on state-owned Waimano ridge lands. While the original master plan for the area did envision the laboratory being built there, area residents were led to believe that the laboratory was to be used primarily to test water quality and food samples. Due to the heightened state of terrorism awareness and recent outbreaks of Norovirus, West Nile virus, and bird flu, testing for these potentially fatal diseases was occurring without the knowledge of area residents. These potentially dangerous activities were being conducted within a close proximity to public schools, placing children at risk. The legislature found that the concerns of these students and their parents had gone unheeded by the department of health and the state administration for too long.

In the early 1990s, there was a collaborative government and community effort to establish a master plan for the Waimano ridge area. This master plan was formulated by the department of health with community input and was designed to create a "totally integrated community" where activities on the state-owned Waimano ridge lands would be community-friendly. Unfortunately, the legislature found that the department of health and the state administration had strayed from the original intent of the master plan and approved uses of the Waimano ridge lands without the consent of and without regard to the Waimano community.

Therefore, in 2005, the legislature enacted Act 7, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005 (Act 7), which requires the department of health to give prior notice to the local neighborhood board and the members of the legislature from the affected districts and obtain approval of the governor for any use of state-owned land under its jurisdiction in the Waimano ridge area prior to use of the land. Additionally, Act 7 requires the department to prepare an updated master plan for the Waimano ridge lands.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to facilitate the establishment of a "totally integrated community" where activities on the state-owned Waimano ridge lands will be community-friendly by, among other things, funding the activities of the Waimano ridge task force and establishing a comprehensive Waimano ridge master plan.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the Waimano ridge task force operating expenses.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for a Waimano ridge comprehensive master plan.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for permanent, full-time Waimano ridge facilities manager position.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 5. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for fiscal year 2007-2008 for the following projects for Waimano ridge lands.

1. Building demolition.

2. Water system upgrade and building improvements.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	601
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII